When Jelly Roll embarked on his 2024 Beautifully Broken Tour, he invited Alexandra Kay to join him on the road. The experience put Kay in front of thousands of fans, fans she would have never been able to perform in front of, if not for the “Save Me” singer.
It’s an opportunity Kay will always be grateful she got to experience.
“Doing it on that level is crazy,” Kay says on Country Nights Live with Bev Rainey. “It gives you a little bit of hope that you’re playing the big leagues now. You don’t really feel it until you’re there, and you have an opportunity as an independent artist to step onto an arena stage. We played like 30 shows on that tour with Jelly. It was just a really crazy opportunity, and I was like, ‘Wow. We’re really doing it.’ It was an eye-opener.”
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What It Was Like For Alexandra Kay to Tour With Jelly Roll
Kay and Jelly Roll were already good friends when he invited her to serve as one of his opening acts. But even Kay could never have predicted how generous Jelly Roll would be, over and over again.
“Jelly Roll got us things every day throughout the entire tour,” Kay reveals to Taste of Country. Among the numerous gifts Jelly Roll gave Kay are a meat smoker, multiple Yeti coolers, and new pairs of HEYDUDE shoes. But that isn’t where his generosity ended. Although the headlining act, the Nashville native made sure that everyone on the road with him had a great time, especially off-stage.
“This man is crazy,” Kay says. “I would literally be in bed, face mask on, makeup off, hair extensions off. Like, I am asleep and all of a sudden, we get a call, ‘Hey, I rented out the Space Needle, come.'”
“I’m in bed, and he would say, ‘C’mon, I rented out the Space Needle and we’re all gonna go to the top,'” she continues, adding that that isn’t the only extravagant thing he did.
“We would get those calls like every night: ‘I rented out the comedy club down the street,” Kay recounts. “Open bar. Everybody’s getting up and doing a stand-up set. I rented out a restaurant, this and that.'”
What Alexandra Kay Says About Her Friendship With Jelly Roll
Kay and Jelly Roll are not just friends, but they are also labelmates. Kay just released her sophomore album, Second Wind, and her first on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. It was Jelly Roll who invited Kay to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and also sings with her on a song for the Twisters movie soundtrack.
After one of her times opening for Jelly Roll, Kay reflected on their enduring friendship.
“I got to witness this incredible human play to 18,000 people last night,” Kay writes. “In the midst of his skyrocket to the top he is always reaching out a hand to someone who looks up to him. Last night, and many times before… that hand was extended to me. The words he spoke of me and my career on the stage last night will stay with me forever.. and the opportunity to perform in front of his loyal and dedicated fan base was an absolute honor.”
Photo Credit: CMA and Jacob Distasio